title: Guillain-Barré syndrome during childhood: particular clinical and electrophysiological features.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has some specific characteristics in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study we reviewed the clinical, laboratory, electrophysiological, and prognosis features of the 19 children diagnosed with GBS at Nantes University Hospital from 2000 to 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gait disturbance and leg pain were the most frequent presenting symptoms. Electrophysiological examinations revealed significant abnormalities even when performed within the first week after onset. Decreased distal CMAP amplitude was noted in 89% of cases. The pattern indicated an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in 95% of cases and acute motor axonal neuropathy in the remaining 5%. About two-thirds of the children were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin. After >1 year of follow-up, 17 patients had complete recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gait disorder, leg pain, a high rate of distal conduction block, and a good prognosis are among the main specific features of GBS in childhood.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Centre de Référence Maladies Neuromusculaires Nantes-Angers, Hôtel-Dieu, F-44093 Nantes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Devos
authors.forename: Armelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magot
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perrier-Boeswillwald
authors.forename: Guillemette
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fayet
authors.forename: Laurene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leclair-Visonneau
authors.forename: Yolaine
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ollivier
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nguyen The Tich
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pereon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology*; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: EDx examination; Guillain-Barré syndrome; acute immune demyelinating polyneuropathy; child; conduction block; pain